Rooney: “It’s Strange That Kane Doesn’t Have the Ballon d’Or”
Wayne Rooney did not hide his admiration for Harry Kane, the current captain of England, and admitted that he finds it strange that the Bayern Munich striker has not been considered among the main candidates for the Ballon d’Or.
For "Wazza", Kane has the numbers and qualities to be in the conversation. Therefore, it surprises him that he doesn’t even appear in the Top 10 of the prestigious award.
A Historic Goalscorer Who Keeps Earning His Place
His transfer to Bayern Munich has put him even more in the international spotlight. His performances at both club level and with the England national team back him up as one of the best forwards in the world. In the Bavarian squad, he competes for all titles and has proven to be a key player, a factor that often matters in the race for the award.
Harry Kane is also England’s all-time top scorer, surpassing Wayne Rooney himself. Under his leadership, the “Three Lions” reached a World Cup semifinal in Russia 2018, something they hadn’t achieved since Italy 1990.
England’s Ballon d’Or History
England has four Ballon d’Or winners in its history: Stanley Matthews was the first, followed by Bobby Charlton in the year the English team won the World Cup. Later, Kevin Keegan won it in 1978, and finally, Michael Owen in 2001.
The last time an English player made the Top 3 was in 2005, when Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard were among the best, in a year dominated by Ronaldinho.
The Main Goal: Titles to Aim for the Award
For Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane has all the arguments to compete for the Ballon d’Or. The striker himself has admitted that he would like to win it, although he also understands that achieving it requires winning major titles, such as the Champions League or the World Cup.
This season, Bayern Munich has a great opportunity to fight for the Champions League, while England has a talented generation dreaming of “bringing football home” and winning their second World Cup, something they haven’t done since 1966.
The big question remains:
Can Harry Kane win the Ballon d’Or?
